Tuesday, December 1, 2015

turTV Renews 'Those Who Can't,' And Begins Development on Three New Scripted Project

With a new focus on the scripted arena, truTV has ordered a second season of its first scripted series Those Who Can't three months in advance of the show's launch - an unprecedented move for the network. In addition, truTV has also ordered two pilots and a pilot script from several established comedic talents, including Dean Lorey (Arrested Development, The Crazy Ones), comedian Tom Segura and also Melissa Hunter (Adult Wednesday Addams). This flurry of scripted activity comes as truTV celebrates momentum on the first anniversary of its "Way More Fun" branding.

Those Who Can't, from executive producer Dean Lorey and Thank You, Brain! Productions, is set to premiere February 11th. truTV has already committed to a second season of the comedy, ordering 13 episodes that are slated to air later in the year. Those Who Can't centers on a trio of trouble-making high school teachers played by show creators and executive producers Adam Cayton-Holland, Andrew Orvedahl and Ben Roy, members of the Denver-based comedy troupe The Grawlix. They are joined by Maria Thayer as the school's librarian. In addition to Lorey, the series is executive-produced by Tracey Baird and Krysia Plonka of Thank You, Brain! Productions; Michael Rotenberg and Josh Lieberman of 3 Arts Entertainment; and Richard Korson. Angel Annussek is executive-producing for truTV. For a preview of the firs t season, click here.

On the scripted development front truTV has entered into a first look deal with Those Who Can't showrunner, Dean Lorey. The network has also ordered a pilot for Shady Neighbors (working title), with Lorey writing and serving as executive producer. Tom Lassally and Jonathan Berry of 3 Arts Entertainment are also executive producers. Thank You, Brain! Productions is attached to produce.

"We love Those Who Can't so much we literally couldn't wait to make more," said Chris Linn, president for truTV. "Working with Dean has been an incredible experience, and we look forward to developing new projects with him as we continue to take truTV further into the scripted arena."

Shady Neighbors follows Tom and Wendy, a seemingly happy suburban couple who have let financial pressures drive them to the brink of divorce. But when they discover they're too broke to split into two families, they turn to crime to finance their breakup, sticking it to the insurance companies, evil employers and banks that screwed them over. One crime leads to a spree, and soon they find a new passion for life as they involve their friends and neighbors, becoming suburban crime lords who happen to be very nice people.

"Making Those Who Can't with Chris, Marissa, Angel and the whole truTV team was a terrific experience," said Lorey. "They really know how to support the vision of the folks who work on their shows. I'm thrilled to be able to continue the relationship with a second season of Those Who Can't and the pilot order for Shady Neighbors."

In addition to the two Lorey projects, truTV has made a pilot deal with comedian Tom Segura for an untitled medical comedy. Segura is set to star and executive-produce the pilot. In addition to Segura, Oly Obst and Josh Lieberman from 3 Arts are also executive producers.

Rounding out its new slate of development projects, truTV has ordered a pilot script from Melissa Hunter, best known for her Adult Wednesday Addams YouTube series and her NBC Playground pilot Wolfgirl. In addition to writing the script and executive producing this potential series, Hunter is attached to star in the dark comedy about an amateur vigilante squad tackling life's daily injustices.

truTV has enjoyed a great deal of positive momentum in the year since it launched the "Way More Fun" brand. Compared to November, 2014, the first month of the brand, truTV's October 2015 delivery of adults 18-49 grew +32%. The results for young adults were even stronger, as truTV charted a +43% increase among adults 18-34. Additionally, the network has seen a significant drop in its primetime median age to 34, a full four years younger than year ago and three years younger than November 2014.